LIBER RV

A ∴ A ∴
Publication in Class B.
Imprimatur:
N. Fra A ∴ A ∴

LIBER RV

VEL SPIRITVS

SVB FIGVRA CCVI

{Note no item 1 is shown}

Let the Zelator observe the current of his breath.

Let him investigate the following statements, and prepare a careful record of research.

(a) Certain actions induce the flow of the breath through the right nostril
(Pingala); and, conversely, the flow of the breath through Pingala induces certain
actions.
(b) Certain other actions induce the flow of the breath through the left nostril
(Ida), and conversely.
(c) Yet a third class of actions induce the flow of the breath through both
nostrils at once (Sushumna), and conversely.
(d) The degree of mental and physical activity is interdependent with the distance
from the nostrils at which the breath can be felt by the back of the hand.

First practice. --- Let him concentrate his mind upon the act of breathing,
saying mentally, "The breath flows in," "The breath flows out," and
record the results. (This practice may resolve itself into Mahasatipatthana
("vide" Liber {61} XXV) or induce Samadhi. Whichever occurs should be followed
up as the right Ingenium of the Zelator, or the advice of his Practicus, may determine.)

Second practice. Pranayama. This is outlined in Liber E. Further, let the Zelator
accomplished in those practices endeavour to master a cycle of 10. 20. 40 or even 16. 32.
64. But let this be done gradually and with due caution. And when he is steady and easy
both in Asana and Pranayama, let him still further increase the period.
Thus let him investigate these statements which follow:

(a) If Pranayama be properly performed, the body will first of all become
covered with sweat. This sweat is different in character from that customarily induced by
exertion. If the Practitioner rub this sweat thoroughly into his body, he will greatly
strengthen it.
(b) The tendency to perspiration will stop as the practice is continued, and the
body become automatically rigid. Describe this rigidity with minute accuracy.
(c) The state of automatic rigidity will develop into a state characterised by
violent spasmodic movements of which the Practitioner is unconscious, but of whose result
he is aware. This result is that the body hops gently from place to place. After the first
two or three occurrences of this experience, Asana is not lost. The body appears (on
another theory) to have lost its weight almost completely, and to be moved by an unknown
force. {62}

{Illustration facing page 62 described. Top caption: "PRAMAYAMA {sic} PROPERLY
PERFORMED. [It has been found necessary to show this because students were trying to do it
without exertion, and in other ways incorrectly. --- ED.]" Bottom caption: "1.
The end of Purakam. The bad definition of the image is due to the spasmodic trembling
which accompanies the action. 2. Kunbhakam. 3. The end of Rekakam."
These are halftone photographs like those of the fontispiece. They are three rectangular
photos one-above-the-other in a vertical column. These are numbered in white 1 (top), 2
(center) and 3 (bottom) in the upper left corner of each. The field is black and the
photos are separated by two thin white horizontal lines. Roughly the right half of each
photo is composed of a mirror set at an angle to show the left side of the figure. There
is a leopard skin beneath the figure, completely covering some sort of table or other
medium sized support. The model is Crowley, as described for the fontispiece. The body is
about 3/4 profile, showing directly the right side and chest.
#1, top: Left leg with knee directly to the front of the figure on the floor, foot flat
against floor with sole up and heal against right hip. Left leg in a squatting position,
with knee upward and foreleg angled inward, ball of foot just beyond left ankle and on
floor. Right arm extended straight at a slight angle and right elbow on right knee, hand
open but with thumb and forefinger touching. Head very slightly back and eyes bugged out.
Left hand appears to be closing the left nostril with thumb and forefinger.
#2, center: Same as #1, except left hand is now straight at an angle with back of hand
resting on left knee. Both hands are in mudra with thumb and index fingers touching while
back of hand is on knee. Head fully erect, features expressionless with mouth closed, eyes
straight ahead.
#3, bottom: Legs as in #1 and #2. Back hunched forward slightly, neck and head bent
forward and down, face at a 40 degree angle from the rear vertical. Left arm is bent at
elbow and at rest on left thigh, left hand in same mudra as #1 but just back of knee on
little finger side of hand. Right arm bent with thumb and forefinger joined to compress
right nostril with outer side of forefinger. Face is in darkness.}

(d) As a development of this stage, the body rises into the air, and remains
there for an appreciably long period, from a second to an hour or more.

Let him further investigate any mental results which may occur.

Third Practice. In order both to economise his time and to develop his powers,
let the Zelator practise the deep full breathing which his preliminary exercises will have
taught him during his walks. Let him repeat a sacred sentence (mantra), or let him count,
in such a way that his footfall beats accurately with the rhythm thereof, as is done in
dancing. Then let him practise Pranayama, at first without the Kumbakham,{WEH NOTE: Magick
in Theory and Practice spells this "Kumbhakam".} and paying no attention to the
nostrils otherwise than to keep them clear. Let him begin by an indrawing of the breath
for 4 paces, and a breathing out for 4 paces. Let him increase this gradually to 6.6, 8.8,
12.12, 16.16, and 24.24, or more if he be able. Next let him practise in the proper
proportion 4.8, 6.12, 8.16, 12.24 and so on. Then if he choose, let him recommence the
series, adding a gradually increasing period of Kumbhakham.{WEH NOTE: Magick in Theory and
Practice spells this "Kumbhakam".}

Fourth practice. Following on this third practice, let him quicken his mantra and
his pace until the walk develops into a dance. This may also be practised with the
ordinary waltz step, using a mantra in three-time, such as
epsilon-pi-epsilon-lambda-theta-omicron-nu, epsilon-pi-epsilon-lambda-theta-omicron-nu,
Alpha-rho-tau-epsilon-mu-iota-sigma; or IAO, IAO SABAO; in such cases the practice may be
combined with devotion to a particular deity: see Liber CLXXV. For the dance as such it is
better to use a mantra of a non-committal character, such as tau-omicron
epsilon-iota-nu-alpha-iota, tau-omicron kappa-alpha-lambda-omicron-nu, tau-omicron
'gamma-alpha-theta-alpha-nu,{WEH NOTE: Magick in Theory and Practice has this last word
as: "Alpha-gamma-alpha-delta-omicron-nu".} or the like. {63}

Fifth practice. Let him practice mental concentration during the dance, and
investigate the following experiments:

(a) The dance becomes independent of the will.
(b) Similar phenomena to those described in 5 (a) (b) (c) (d)
occur.
(c) Certain important mental results occur.

A note concerning the depth and fullness of the breathing. In all proper expiration the
last possible portion of air should be expelled. In this the muscles of the throat, chest,
ribs, and abdomen must be fully employed, and aided by the pressing of the upper arms into
the flanks, and of the head into the thorax.
In all proper inspiration the last possible portion of air must be drawn into the lungs.
In all proper holding of the breath, the body must remain absolutely still.
Ten minutes of such practice is ample to induce profuse sweating in any place of a
temperature of 17 Degree C or over.
The progress of the Zelator in acquiring a depth and fullness of breath should be tested
by the respirometer.
The exercises should be carefully graduated to avoid overstrain and possible damage to the
lungs.
This depth and fullness of breath should be kept as much as possible, even in the rapid
exercises, with the exception of the sixth practice following.

Sixth Practice. Let the Zelator breathe as shallowly and rapidly as possible. He
should assume the attitude of his moment of greatest expiration, and breathe only with the
muscles of his throat. He may also practise lengthening the period between each shallow
breathing. {64} (This may be combined when acquired with concentration on the Visuddhi
cakkra, "i.e." let him fix his mind unwaveringly upon a point in the spine
opposite the larynx. ED.)

{WEH NOTE: This step is missing from the version in Magick in Theory and Practice.} Seventh
practice. Let the Zelator breathe as deeply and rapidly as possible.

Eighth practice. Let the Zelator practise restraint of breathing in the following
manner.
At any stage of breathing let him suddenly hold the breath, enduring the need to breathe
until it passes, returns, and passes again, and so on until consciousness is lost, either
rising to Samadhi or similar supernormal condition, or falling into oblivion.

Ninth practice. Let him practice the usual forms of Pranayama, but let Kumbhakham
be used after instead of before expiration. Let him gradually increase the period of this
Kumbhakham as in the case of the other.

A note concerning the conditions of these experiments.
The conditions favourable are dry, bracing air, a warm climate, absence of wind, absence
of noise, insects and all other disturbing influences,<> a retired situation, simple
food eaten in great moderation at the conclusion of the practices of morning and
afternoon, and on no account before practising. Bodily health is almost essential, and
should be most carefully guarded. (See Liber CLXXXV., Task of a Neophyte). A diligent and
tractable disciple, or the Practicus of the Zelator, should aid him in his work. Such a
disciple should be noiseless, patient, vigilant, prompt, cheerful, of gentle manner and
reverent to his master, intelligent to anticipate {65} his wants, cleanly and gracious,
not given to speech, devoted and unselfish. With all this he should be fierce and terrible
to strangers and all hostile influences, determined and vigorous, increasingly vigilant,
the guardian of the threshold.
It is not desirable that the Zelator should employ any other creature than a man, save in
cases of necessity. Yet for some of these purposes a dog will serve, for others a woman.
There are also others appointed to serve, but these are not for the Zelator.

Tenth Practice. Let the Zelator experiment if he will with inhalations of oxygen,
nitrous oxide, carbon dioxide, and other gases mixed in small proportion with his air
during his practices. These experiments are to be conducted with caution in the presence
of a medical man of experience, and they are only useful as facilitating a simulacrum of
the results of the proper practices, and thereby enheartening the Zelator.

Eleventh practice. Let the Zelator at an time during the practices, especially
during the periods of Kumbhakham, throw his will utterly towards his Holy Guardian Angel,
directing his eyes inward and upward, and turning back his tongue as if to swallow it.
(This latter operation is facilitated by severing the fraenum linguae, which, if done,
should be done by a competent surgeon. We do not advise this or any similar method of
cheating difficulties. This is, however, harmless.{WEH NOTE: Harmless, that is, if you
don't mind the danger of choking to death in your sleep!})
In this manner the practice is to be raised from the physical to the spiritual plane, even
as the words Ruh, Ruach, Pneuma, Spiritus, Geist, Ghost, and indeed words of almost all
languages, have been raised from their physical meanings of wind, air, breath, or
movement, to the spiritual plane. {66} (RV is the old root meaning Yoni and hence Wheel
(Fr. roue, Lat. rota, wheel), and the corresponding Semitic root means "to go".
Similarly spirit is connected with "spiral." --- Ed.)

Let the Zelator attach no credit to any statements that may have been made throughout
the course of this instruction, and reflect that even the counsel which we have given as
suitable to the average case may be entirely unsuitable to his own.

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